The children in Shalom Chaverim (“Welcome, Friends!” for ages 0 – 3 and their grown-ups) are exploring Shabbat.
To prepare for Shabbat children washed toy food and containers, or put wooden coins into a tzedakah box. They sculpted play-dough into Shabbat objects such as challah, a kiddush cup, candles, candlesticks, or a bottle of grape juice. Some children manipulated pictures or foam shapes of these objects on contact paper. After hearing a Shabbat story and singing some Shabbat songs, they used group dramatic play for the final preparation: setting their Shabbat table, complete with a fancy tablecloth. One child made soup, one provided candles and candlesticks, another made sure there was grape juice and a kiddush cup, while one child brought yummy challah. Finally they determined when the table was ready for Shabbat. These might be among the youngest children at the Jewish Enrichment Center, but they know how to celebrate Shabbat!
